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Somehow, I'm not sure those pledges of $172.50 persuaded Jakob Poeltl to play another season of basketball for the University of Utah.
The recent launch of FanAngel.com came a little too late for any sizable percentage of Ute fans to financially influence Poeltl's decision about whether or not to enter the NBA draft. Yet the mere existence of this Park City-based website illustrates the culture of college basketball in this century. Poeltl defied the societal trend Monday when he announced he would return as a sophomore in 2015-16, citing a "gut decision."
His return is a victory for the Utes, who have enjoyed a successful 2014-15 school year in their highest-profile sports of football, men's basketball and gymnastics. Poeltl joins football star Devontae Booker in choosing to return for another season — although Poeltl's case rises to a whole other level, because the center likely would have been picked in the middle of the first round in June.
FanAngel enables a program's backers to pledge money to athletes who stay in school or meet other challenges, payable when their collegiate eligibility is scheduled to end. "Fans have an appetite for doing this," said Shawn Fojtik, the company founder.
That's why it is so refreshing whenever a player with Poeltl's talent sticks around. Yeah, it is kind of weird to celebrate him for being willing to play two seasons at Utah. How long ago does it seem when former Ute star Keith Van Horn announced he would stay for his senior year?
Yet in the context of 21st century college basketball, with seven players leaving Kentucky's program this spring at varying stages of their careers, Poeltl's choice is a big story — even if it is just for one more year.
Nobody could have criticized him for entering the NBA now, or blamed any shortcomings of Utah's program if he had done so. Because the one-and-done mentality is so pervasive, though, Poeltl's return validates Ute coach Larry Krystkowiak and his staff. He witnessed how another season of development helped senior guard Delon Wright as the Utes reached the Sweet 16, and Poeltl clearly believes that Krystkowiak's NBA background will enable him to keep improving.
The decision dramatically alters the Utes' outlook in 2015-16, and can be used in recruiting as an endorsement of Poeltl's positive experience.
So where can Poeltl go from here? He's unlikely to play himself into the NBA's No. 1 overall pick next year, as Andrew Bogut did as a sophomore in 2005, or No. 2, as Van Horn did as a senior in 1997. Yet there's no doubt he can improve his game and enhance his stock. Avoiding foul trouble and staying on the court for longer stretches would be a good start, and shooting better than 44.4 percent from the free-throw line is an obvious point of emphasis.
Poeltl's 9.1 points and 6.8 rebounds were modest averages in his freshman season, but imagine what he may have done by playing more than 23.3 minutes. He played well against Duke's Jahlil Okafor in the Sweet 16 with 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots in 27 minutes, while missing both of his free-throw attempts.
Even without Wright, the Utes are positioned for another NCAA run in 2016. They return Jordan Loveridge, Brandon Taylor, Dakarai Tucker and other key players. Dallin Bachynski's graduation leaves a vacancy at backup center, but Jeremy Olsen is capable of contributing and Poeltl himself can account for some of Bachynski's minutes by staying in games.
Poeltl's announcement, packaged with Krystkowiak's contract extension, provides a nice ending of 2014-15 for Utah's athletic department, with its flagship sports thriving. The Utes had never won a bowl game, played in the Sweet 16 and finished second or higher in gymnastics in the same academic year.
And they have Booker and Poeltl coming back.
Twitter: @tribkurt